WASHINGTON: The White House has a plan to force out Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson and replace him with CIA chief Mike Pompeo within weeks, the New York Times reported Thursday.
The newspaper quoted unnamed senior administration officials as saying
Trump had soured on
Tillerson and was ready for a change at the State Department, probably around the end of the year.
The two men have aired striking differences in public.
Trump surprised many observers when he tweeted that
Tillerson was ?wasting his time? pursuing contacts with North Korea, and
Tillerson was quoted as having said ? though he denied it ? that the president was a ?moron.?
The former ExxonMobil executive has also defended the Iran nuclear deal, which
Trump last month disavowed.It was not clear Thursday whether the president had given final approval to the reported cabinet changes.
The White House responded to speculation about Rex Tillerson?s imminent departure as Secretary of State Thursday, saying he was still in the job and ?there are no personnel announcements at this time.? ?Secretary
Tillerson continues to lead the State Department and the entire cabinet is focused on completing this incredibly successful first year of President Trump?s administration,? press secretary Sarah Sanders added in a statement.
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